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Komarek strong leader for LOIS

Building the replacement for the Oswego Lake interceptor sewer is a tough job. It's a job that none of us wanted. It is a job that has to get done, and it will get done. It is a matter of public health and environmental protection - stopping the sewer overflows into the lake.

Unfortunately, a new tactic being employed by those who would like to see the project halted or delayed is to personalize the issue and attack the staff and consultants working on this project. This approach is misguided and just plain wrong. The staff, headed by project manager Joel Komarek, is dedicated to designing and overseeing the construction of the new pipeline in the most efficient and cost effective way possible.

Mr. Komarek is a professional engineer with over 15 years of service to Lake Oswego. He served as the city engineer for six years before volunteering to manage this project. Joel is highly regarded by his peers in the world of civil engineering and he is respected in the community for his technical skills, his work ethic and his dedication.

As the elected policy-makers for the city, we value Joel's expertise and we trust his honesty and dedication. When Joel comes to us with recommendations about the interceptor sewer project, we know that those recommendations have been intensely studied, with the long-term best interests of the entire community being considered.

The engineering consulting firm, Brown and Caldwell, has been retained by the city to design this project. This is an established firm with many years of success in bringing major sewer projects on line. As with the staff involved, Brown and Caldwell has provided valuable insight on every phase of this project. This included the review and evaluation of numerous alternatives for the basic design of the project.

Some people feel that the city council should have selected a different design. Some disagreement is inevitable. What matters is that the decision involved an open public process with a great deal of study.

If you have questions, comments or suggestions about the Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer project, please come to a regular city council meeting and talk to us. We, our staff, and our consultants, will listen and use what we learn to improve this project.